Man Dies After Driving Car Into River

January 18, 2008|By DAVID MACAULAY, dmacaulay@dailypress.com 247-7838

NEWPORT NEWS — The body of a man was recovered from the Warwick River in northern Newport News on Thursday after he drove his car into the water around 6 p.m. in what police said was an apparent suicide bid.

Police, firefighters and fish and game officers mounted a major rescue operation at the Denbigh boat ramp on the west end of Denbigh Boulevard, after fish and game officers saw the car being driven down the ramp into the river.

Police spokesman Harold Eley said a person in the waterside parking lot also witnessed the incident.

"Fish and game officers were out here doing some water fowl enforcement. They were coming down the river on their boat and saw him drive into the water. It didn't appear to be fast," Eley said.

In driving rain, divers from the Newport News Fire Department quickly located the submerged vehicle about 20 feet out from the dock.

About 7:15 p.m., a light blue Mercury Sable car with Virginia plates was pulled out of the water with the driver dead inside.

"Based on the information we have it seems to be a suicide," Eley said.